Chief of Party, RISE Eswatini

Jhpiego is an international, non-profit health organization affiliated with The Johns Hopkins University. For 50 years and in over 155 countries, Jhpiego has worked to prevent the needless deaths of women and their families. Jhpiego Corporation has been providing technical support to the Ministries of Health in partner countries across the globe in a variety of technical areas including cervical cancer treatment and prevention, community health, HIV and AIDS, maternal and newborn health, health workforce capacity development family planning, malaria, and IPC/WASH. 

The RISE project supports countries to respond to the HIV epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic by providing technical assistance, service delivery, research, and cross-cutting health system innovations. RISE partners with ministries of health, local stakeholders, and nongovernmental organizations in more than 25 countries around the world to advance strategic and policy objectives to control the transmission of HIV and COVID-19. Working across the HIV prevention, care, and treatment cascade, RISE bridges country-led efforts to reach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals by 2030. To address the COVID-19 pandemic, RISE provides short-term, emergency response aid, alongside longer-term health systems strengthening, to achieve pandemic preparedness. Targeted technical assistance includes strengthening health information systems, human resources for health, supply chain, and health financing. 

In Eswatini, RISE will work with the government at the national level to improve coordination, including developing national guidelines and support human resources for health (HRH). At regional levels RISE will work to strengthen capacity to oversee HIV services in their regions. RISE will also support and partner with local organizations to 1) provide technical support and oversight for comprehensive HIV programming aimed to attain & sustain 95-95-95, prevent new infections and reach all populations for epidemic control, 2) Provide high-quality, life-saving clinical services for HIV throughout the entire continuum of care, including HIV testing, linking to treatment, ensuring retention in care. 3) Life-saving activities related to adolescent girls and young women and children. The project is seeking a Chief of Party in Eswatini.

Overview of the Role

The Chief of Party will provide overall project and strategic leadership and be accountable for the project budget and deliverables.  S/he will be the primary point of contact with Ministry of Health, US State Department and RISE core team, sub-partners and stakeholders.  

The Chief of Party will have the overall responsibility for leadership and management and reporting of project activities across multiple country settings. The Chief of Party will be responsible for making key decisions and solving problems in short timeframes while ensuring operational and project quality and integrity. The Chief of Party will serve as the project’s main point of contact with the donor on routine and strategic matters. The Chief of Party will also ensure effective organizational management and communication with host country governments and key stakeholders at all levels, including international entities.   

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to ensure programmatic, technical and financial integrity of the project and serve as the main point of contact to donor and within Jhpiego. The COP is ultimately accountable to achieve rapid and sustained goals, objectives, and targets as outlined in the workplan and stay within the budget.
• Provide overall vision and leadership to the development the project workplan and project monitoring framework, in close collaboration with donor, and Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders to ensure timely implementation and compliance to the requirements and regulations of the award
• In collaboration with RISE Core Team and in-country project team, ensure that project workplan is developed, approved, and aligned with donor scope and budget. The COP will collaborate closely with finance staff to review budget and expenses
• Provide oversight for all aspects of project implementation of expected outcomes and objectives to include but not limited to:

(1) Ensure activities are aligned with the latest scientific evidence on the area of  expertise of the project, as well as incorporate innovative implementation approaches for programs;

(2) Activities and approaches meet the PEPFAR limited waiver activities and are compliant with USG priorities and directives

(3) Identifying and addressing any challenges that may hinder implementation

(4) Designing activities that are tailored to the specific needs and context of each country and partner involved.

(5) Ensure strong collaboration and engagement with the MOH and stakeholders so that project activities directly support national priorities with an eye towards medium term transition

• Manage relationships and ensure timely and quality completion of deliverables from partner organizations and institutions
• Foster relationships with international and local implementing partners as a representative of Jhpiego and the project
• Facilitate the project team member’s relationship with their designated counterparts within donors, national and sub-national ministries of health, as well as private and public sector partners and other key stakeholders to ensure effective technical assistance and the smooth implementation of activities
• Provide technical oversight and leadership and ensure the quality and sustainability of interventions
• Represent Jhpiego and the project’s progress, achievements and lessons learned to donors, other key stakeholders, and through meetings, conferences, and presentations
• Facilitate annual work planning, in close collaboration with Donor, Ministries of Health, implementing partners receiving technical assistance, stakeholders, project team and project sub-partners
• Manage and mentor a diverse team of technical, finance, operational and management staff, ensuring an organizational structure with specific roles and responsibilities and a high level of staff morale and retention 
• Document successes, lessons learned and challenges in implementation as well as reports of project activities and results to the project and donor, including routine quarterly and annual reports and other reporting requirements as requested 
• Lead strategy and engagement with local implementing partners to build their capacity and to ensure sustainability 
• Responsible for the development and submission of accurate and timely technical, programmatic, and financial project reports to donor, in line with donor and project specific reporting requirements.

• Clinical background required (MD or nursing); Master’s degree in Public Health or in any health related field
• A minimum of 10–15 years of experience is required, including at least 5 years in progressively senior roles directly related to managing health sector projects, particularly those focused on HIV, health systems strengthening, or global health security.
• Proven track record of leading and managing large (more than US$1 million per year) USG-supported public health programs and budgets in developing countries; health projects preferred. 

• Previous experience serving as COP/project director or DCOP or senior-level management 
• Previous experience working in PEPFAR supported countries with intimate understanding of local health system and HIV prevention, care and treatment service delivery gaps and opportunities, health security, disease surveillance and response, and primary health care
• Solid relationships with government agencies and local institutions; previous experience strengthening capacity of ministries of health and other local stakeholders
• In-depth knowledge of and experience with PEPFAR and USAID’s projects, targets, regulations, compliance and reporting
• Demonstrated ability to provide oversight of organizational and individual capacity development efforts, including coaching and mentoring, and working with local partners to ensure adherence to all sub-award requirements
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in financial planning and management, human resources, and procurement, among other management support functions
• Previous direct supervisory experience of project technical and operational staff
• Expertise in implementation sciences—translating best practices into project realities
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with Donor Systems, host-country counterparts and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills in English.
• Ability to communicate in siSwati desired
• Experience developing strategic plans in cooperation with others who represent a wide range of interests and needs
• Demonstrated outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, organizational, team-building, and representational skills and ability to interact with established networks of senior level health professionals
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally 30% of time.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.